Rope-clamp.



W. HANCOX.

ROPE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1918.

1,278,64 1 Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET I m5 NORHIS PETERS co PHOYOVLIYHO. WASHINGYUN. o. c

W- HANCOX.

ROPE CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1918.

1,978,641. Patented Sept. 10, 191

2 suzns smen 2.

WILLIAM HANCOX, or HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

ROPE-CLAMP.

Speci fication of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 10, 1918.

Application filed April 20, 1918. Serial No. 229,768.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HANcoX, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey,have invented new and useful Improvements in Rope-Clamps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in theatricalscenery trimmers, and the principal object of the invention is toprovide means for permitting the adjustment of the ropes independentlyof each other.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide a clamp for each ropewith means thereon for clamping the rope in any desired position andother means for adjusting the position of the clamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich is simple and durable in construction, reliable andv eflicient inoperation and one which can be manufactured and placed upon the marketat a minimum cost.

The invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1shows the invention connected with a theater drop curtain.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the device alone.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view of one of the clamps with the different parts thereofseparated.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the clamp.

Fig. 6 is a cross section thereof.

In these drawings the curtain is shown at A, and said curtain issuspended by ll'l-GilllS of the three ropes or cables B. .These cablespass over suitable pulleys 0, carried by a beam D, forming a part of thestage of the theater. The ends of the ropes or cables are connected witha frame 1 which is composed of an upper cross-piece 2 and a lowercross-piece 3, and said cross-pieces are connected together by means ofthree rods 4.

The lower ends of the rods may be connected with the cross piece 3 inany suitable way but I prefer to connect said rods with the uppercross-piece by passing their upper ends through holes formed in saidcrosspiece and having their projecting ends receiving nuts 5. Each rodis provided with a plurality of annular notches 6, having their upperwalls extending at right angles to the longitudinal plane of the rod andtheir lower walls tapering as shown. Each rod supports a clamping member7 which is composed of a body part 8 having a hole 9 therein throughwhich the rod passes, said body part having a stem 10 provided with alongitudinal slot 11 for receiving the rope or cable. The other parts ofthe clamping member consist of a washer 12 and the top piece 13. Thewasher 12 is provided on one face with a groove 1 1, and the body 8 isprovided with a groove 15 coinciding with the slot 11. 'n the stem. Whenthe rope is placed in the slot it will pass into said groove 15 and thenthe washer is placed over the stem, and the groove 14 therein willengage the rope. The stem is threaded so as to engage the screw threadedsocket 16 in the top piece 13 so that when the top piece is screwed onto the stem it will cause the washer to clamp the rope between itselfand the body. The top piece 13 is provided with a handle 17 tofacilitate the turning thereof. A spring pressed plunger 18 is locatedin the end of the body 8 with its head projecting therefrom, so thatsaid plunger may be readily grasped by the fingers and moved outwardlyagainst the tension of the spring This spring normally holds the plungerwith its inner end in en gagement with one of the notches 6 in therod,so as to prevent the clamping member from moving upwardly, but due tothe tapered formation of the lower wall of the notch the clamping membermay move downwardly.

A yoke 19 is secured to the lower side of the cross-piece 3 and thisyoke is adapted to receive the sna hook 20 which supports the weight 21,which may be of any desired form. To keep the ropes from twisting Iprovide guide wires 22 which pass through eyes 23 carried at each end ofthe crossieces.

It will thus be seen that the ropes may be adjusted independently ofeach other so that the curtain may be easily trimmed.

The ropes may be adjusted either by moving the clamping members on therods or by loosening the top piece 13 and adjusting the rope in theclamping member and then tightening the clamping pieces again.

While the device is shown as used with a drop curtain it will, ofcourse, be understood that it may be used in connection with otherdevices, such as scenery, on ship board, and the like.

While the drawing shows the device provided with three clamping membersit is, of course, understood that the device may be made to support agreater or lesser number.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in theconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of the severalparts, provided that such changes fallv within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a movable frame, aplurality of clamping members carried by said frame and means foradjusting the position of said clamping members on the frameindependently of each other.

2. A device of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality ofclamping members carried thereby, means for adjusting the position ofsaid members on the frame independently of each other and adjustablerope clamping means on said members. 37 A device of the class describedcomprising a frame including vertical rods',,a clamping member on eachrod, means for adjusting said member on the rod and rope clamping meanscarried by said member. 7 j 7 4:. A device of theclass describedcomprising a frame including a number of vertical rods having notchestherein, a clamping member slidably mounted on each of said rods, aspring plunger carried by each member and engaging the notches and ropeclamping means on each member. j

5. A device of the class described comprising a frame including a numberof vertical rods, a clamping member adjustably mounted on each rod andhaving a screw threaded and slotted stem, a washer engaging With saidstem and a top piece having a screw thread socket for engaging said stemfor clamping the Washer on to the rope.

6. A device. of the class described comprising a movable frame, aplurality of rope clamping means on said frame, guiding cables for theframe and eyes on the frame engaging said cables. i

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. WILLIAM HANCOX.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner '6'! mean,

Washington, D. G.

